Election Commission Holds Press Conference Over Bihar SIR Row Amid Voter List Controversy

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday, August 17, 2025, addressed the media in New Delhi over the ongoing controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls. The issue has sparked a major political storm, with opposition parties alleging mass deletion of genuine voters and calling it an attempt at “vote theft.”

According to reports, the SIR exercise, which began on June 24, led to the removal of nearly 65 lakh names from Bihar’s voter list. Critics argue that the process was carried out without transparency and could disenfranchise millions ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, have launched campaigns such as the “Voter Adhikar Yatra” to protest the move.

In response, the Election Commission defended its procedures, stating that the draft rolls were shared with all stakeholders and a claims-and-objections period was provided. The ECI emphasized that grievances should have been raised within the official timeline.

The Supreme Court recently intervened, directing the Commission to publish district-wise and booth-level details of deleted voters and to accept Aadhaar or EPIC as valid proof for reinstatement.

Today’s press conference aimed to clarify the Commission’s stand, assure transparency, and outline the next steps to protect voter rights. With elections approaching, the Bihar SIR row is set to remain a crucial issue in the national political debate.